First Meeting of Iran’s Economic Dialogue Council Held With New Economy Minister

TEHRAN (Iran News) The meeting, hosted at Iran’s Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines, and Agriculture, opened with condolences from Madanizadeh for the recent loss of civilians, military commanders, and nuclear scientists during the recent twelve-day conflict. He emphasized that his term at the ministry begins under the shadow of war, which has already caused significant human and economic losses.

Madanizadeh highlighted the government’s swift wartime response to protect the economy and ensure the steady supply of essential goods to the public. He praised the solidarity and coordination among government institutions, producers, business associations, and the broader private sector, noting their efforts helped ease the public’s concerns about shortages in basic necessities.

Acknowledging the broader economic damage from the conflict, Madanizadeh explained that businesses suffered reduced activity levels, leading to a decline in both supply and demand. “We observed a domino effect,” he said, warning that without proper planning, these economic disruptions could persist. He stressed the need for accurate risk perception, explaining that if people overestimate risks, it discourages investment—a critical issue in a year designated as the “Year of Investment for Production.”

To address these challenges, Madanizadeh announced new government support packages aimed at large industries, small and medium enterprises (SMEs), and trade associations. He expressed hope that these measures would help mitigate the war-related damages over time.

Outlining his main agenda, the minister emphasized a strategy of reducing state involvement and promoting genuine privatization. “We must transfer not only ownership but also management to the private sector so it can truly expand,” he said. Additionally, he announced plans to revitalize state-owned assets, reform the country’s financial systems, and strengthen the role of capital markets. Currently, he noted, Iran’s production sector relies too heavily on bank financing, and there is a serious plan to boost capital market contributions.

During the meeting, Samad Hassanzadeh, President of Iran’s Chamber of Commerce and Secretary of the Dialogue Council, also paid tribute to those killed in the conflict. He commended the private sector’s “responsible and coordinated” response in managing production and distribution under wartime conditions. Hassanzadeh praised the Iranian people’s national solidarity, which he said helped prevent widespread economic hardship.

Keyvan Kashefi, Deputy Chair of the Dialogue Council, stressed the importance of implementing the council’s decisions promptly. By law, the government must address these decisions within 30 days, yet Kashefi noted this deadline is sometimes missed. He recommended that the minister include provincial dialogue council meetings in his travels to better address regional economic challenges.” Economy Minister”

The meeting reflected shared resolve between the government and private sector to stabilize Iran’s economy and pursue long-term reforms despite recent adversities. Madanizadeh concluded by reiterating his commitment to empower the private sector as the engine of economic growth.